Abstract The rhodiumII-catalyzed reaction of α-diazo ketones bearing tethered alkyne units represents a new and useful method for the construction of a variety of substituted cyclopentenones. The process proceeds by addition of the rhodium-stabilized carbenoid onto the acetylenic π-bond to give a vinyl carbenoid intermediate. The resulting rhodium complex undergoes a wide assortment of reactions including cyclopropanation, 1,2-hydrogen migration, CH-insertion, addition to tethered alkynes and ylide formation. When 2-alkynyl-2-diazo-3-oxobutanoates were treated with a RhII-catalyst, furo3,4-cfurans were formed in excellent yield. View Full-Text